Response received from Minister Furner
AFTA had previously submitted policy manifesto for election policy considerations, these have now been updated to include:
Gill Nets
Alongside the ongoing efforts to establish a gill net-free Mary River and complement the existing gill net exclusions in the Gulf and Great Barrier Reef, AFTA advises that Moreton Bay Marine Park should also prohibit gill nets. AFTA advocates for a completely net-free southern Moreton Bay, extending from south of Coochiemudlo to the Gold Coast.
Harvest Sharing – Sustainability
AFTA recommends implementing a Harvest Sharing Model that includes a list of species designated solely for recreational fishing. Snapper, Pearl Perch, and Saddle Tail Snapper are all slower-growing species that are caught using line fishing techniques. These species have increasingly become targets for commercial fishing. Recreational fishers have contributed to sustainability by diversifying their catches away from focusing only on Snapper and Pearl Perch, only to observe commercial fishers targeting these species intensively and buying additional quotas, thereby nullifying the conservation efforts of recreational anglers. The Snapper/Pearl Perch recreational fishery is specific to South-East Queensland and would be ideal as recreational-only southern offshore species, alongside yellowfin whiting as an inshore species. In northern Queensland, AFTA recommends making Saddle Tail Snapper a recreational-only catch species.
AFTA 2024 Policy Submission:
AFTA is the national peak body representing Australia’s recreational fishing industry, our membership encompasses all aspects of recreational fishing from manufacturers, wholesale distributors, retail, media, and charter operations and in turn we are connected to every recreational fishing participant.
The Queensland recreational fishing trade comprises 394 independent tackle stores, 42 BCF stores, 20 Anaconda Stores, 2 major manufacturers, 44 wholesalers, agency representatives, the many service station outlets, holiday parks selling bait and tackle, plus the 69 KMART and 51 Big W retail outlets and the 179 Fishing Charter operators.
In Queensland, 26% of adults participate in recreational fishing, being much higher than the Australian average of 21.4%. The recreational fishing industry in Queensland contributes an estimated $2.52 billion to the state economy and 23,602 full-time equivalent jobs. This includes $1.04 billion and 9,025 jobs in Greater Brisbane, and $1.48 billion and 14,577 jobs in regional Queensland. The Queensland recreational fishing industry directly employs 10,142 jobs in charter fishing, sales of fishing equipment, tackle & bait, and in accommodation and retail businesses used by recreational fishers.
Source: FRDC Social & Economic Survey of Recreational Fishers 2018-21
The recreational fishing sector is diverse and dynamic, as such we face a range of future challenges and opportunities. Over the next 4 years of government, it will be essential that future policy development be guided by clear objectives, strategies, actions, and inclusion based on sound, peer reviewed science, and to be appropriately tailored and effective, the development plan must be informed by our community, industry, organisations, and tourism operators. A strong recreational fishing sector relies on great fishing experiences, and this is dependent on a range of policy settings and investment decisions.
These include sound and participatory fisheries management practices, access to fishing grounds, infrastructure development and maintenance, environmental protection, water resource governance, and sufficient funding for community groups, projects, and inclusive activities.
Strategic planning has evolved significantly in recent times, with new, creative, and technological developments paving the way to enable greater participation, as well as to output innovative, time- bound and effective plans. Our community is ready for the challenge, we just need the support to enable an innovative and inclusive process, benefiting the importance of our sector.
AFTA is committed to working with governments at all levels and importantly the commercial sector to grow and develop our industry not just in Queensland, but all of Australia.
AFTA Trade Show – Public Day Sponsorship
Historically, AFTA has hosted its Trade Show at the Gold Coast Convention Centre every July/August. The event features “Trade Only” days on Thursday and Friday, while Saturday is dedicated to the “Public Day”. Thanks to the support of our exhibitors and sponsorship from the Queensland Government, entry to the Public Day was free in 2023 and 2024.
AFTA leverages its members’ corporate sponsorship of fishing media personalities to engage and educate both children and their parents on fishing techniques, planning, and responsible practices. In 2023, the event saw over 3,000 registered attendees, with a target of 5,000 registrations for 2024.
The marketing campaign for the 2024 Trade Show’s Public Day achieved significant milestones:
Reach (number of people reached): 312,983
Impressions (ad views): 1,557,025
Link Clicks: 8,006
Tickets Sold: 6,574 – exceeding the 5000 targets by 32%AFTA is seeking continued financial support from the Queensland Government at the minimum amount of $35,000 per year to maintain the “Public Day” as a free, family-friendly event that promotes recreational fishing and community participation.
Fisheries Management:
The quality and sustainability of the whole of the fishing industry depends on effective and equitable fisheries management, allocation, planning, and compliance. The Qld Harvest Strategies (pre-agreed decision-rules) are now in place.
AFTA recommends the establishment of a Management Advisory Committee (MACs) with members from the recreational, commercial, fishing tourism and Indigenous sectors tasked with overseeing the implementation and review of the Harvest Strategy. Sound management processes must continue to inform stakeholders and include all sectors in fisheries resource governance structures and decision making.
Effective, inclusive management is key to the successful planning and implementation of policies across the fisheries sector. AFTA recommend a more inclusive and unbiased consultation process in the development of sound fisheries management policy. The strict rules over eligibility to attend and the lack of inclusion of economic consultation within these working groups e.g. the tackle industry has been of major concern. These are the sectors with the actual “skin in the game”, they rely on a sustainable fishery to remain viable. Further as a part of the management process it is essential that only valid & reviewed scientific data be considered by working groups and not data that has been assumed, estimated, or simply presented for comment. On that basis:
- Will your party commit to appointing a Fisheries Management Advisory Committee with members from the recreational, commercial, fishing tourism and Indigenous Traditional fishing sectors to oversee the planning and implementation of all fishery Management Frameworks and Harvest Strategies?
- Will your party commit to establishing a Ministerial Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee to report directly to the Minister on specific issues relating to the recreational fishing sector?
As stated at the meeting, AFTA recently completed the Governments’ “Have Your Say” on Recreational Fishing in Queensland, for your information the AFTA submission is attached.
Other issues that AFTA need considered are:
Gillnetting Closures
AFTA sought recent clarification and an urgent remedy from government in relation to planned removal of the netting exemption in the Sandy Straights Marine Park. This removal effectively leaves the area of the Mary River, above the yellow zone, extremely vulnerable to an exponential increase in netting.
It is this section of the Mary River that is the migratory path of many key recreational species and as such is completely at odds with the recent announcement of an action plan to remove gill nets in Qld and in particular local efforts to restore the Sandy Straights back to a key recreational fishing tourism destination through the removal of the yellow zone exemption to netting. AFTA urge you to use whatever powers within your means to act and stop the use of gill nets in the Mary River. AFTA stands ready to support this action and work with you to protect our precious marine resources.
In the Gulf Region, AFTA fully support the announced gillnet closures in the Gulf of Carpentaria beginning on the 17th May 2024. The indiscriminate nature of gill nets, which result in the death of dugongs, turtles, dolphins, sawfish, and other non-targeted fish, is detrimental to the health and sustainability of these magnificent waterways and is environmentally irresponsible. The barramundi and threadfin salmon are iconic fisheries, nowhere more so than in the Gulf Region.
Spanish Mackerel
AFTA is deeply concerned about the bag limits, the length of seasonal closures, and the timing of these closures for Spanish Mackerel. We appreciate that the Government undertook a peer review of the Spanish Mackerel science at AFTA’s request. However, we find it unacceptable that the Spanish Mackerel Fishery Working Group discounted the well-considered points put forward by Dr Neil Klaer. All science must be able to withstand an independent Peer Review. AFTA has always supported sustainability measures based on sound science, but it appears that the application of sound science is not the case in the management of Spanish Mackerel.
We urgently request, after the election, a further detailed and comprehensive scientific study, in conjunction with the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), on Spanish Mackerel aggregation, breeding patterns (triggers), and locations so that sound science can be accurately relied upon in the future.
We are also concerned with the Southern Section closure, where no spawning occurs, between 1 February – 21 February & 1 March – 2 March, a total of 6 weeks which is during the peak tourism period for Southeast Queensland. This only seeks to push recreational fishers into New South Wales waters for the same Spanish Mackerel stock.
Finally, the bag limit imposed of 1 per person and a maximum boat limit of 2 defies logic and only encourages more boats out on the water with subsequent environmental impacts. At a minimum, the plan would have been better served with 1 per person and no boat limit. AFTA’s recommended position on Spanish Mackerel is a limit of 2 per person & 4 per boat.
When it comes to the science, the fatal flaw is the lack of quality, reliable data, and particularly the defined quantum of recreational fishers in Queensland. The 2017 Productivity Commission Report into Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture reported an estimate of 3.4 million RecFishers in Australia and correctly asserts that “A small number of fishers account for the majority of the recreational fishing effort” Source: Chapter 4, Table 4.1 Estimates of State-wide participations on recreational fishing, Page 124 and further asserts that “Surveys are undertaken on an ad-hoc basis and there is therefore little information on shifts in fishing activity and catch.” Page 125,
To extrapolate small survey numbers based on boat ramp surveys is wildly inaccurate. The 2016 Productivity Commission Report “Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture” recommended the introduction of licensing or compulsory registration as a more accurate measure of participation. Even though there is no licensing/compulsory registration scheme in Queensland to determine the exact numbers of Recfishers in Queensland, Queensland represents approximately 31% of all equipment sales in Australia. AFTA acknowledges that this includes some spending by interstate and international travel, but in determining fishing effort and effects on fish stocks a reliable base number needs to be established and that is not the case at present.
Saltwater Fish Restocking
AFTA strongly supports and recommends the development of a funded program for the restocking of native species such as barramundi, kingfish, dusky flathead, snapper, whiting, bream, and mulloway. We believe that the government should invest in new hatcheries or acquire stock through existing hatcheries in Queensland or interstate. This is critical as an increased sustainability measure in areas where depletion occurs. Species such as barramundi fingerlings can be acquired from existing Queensland commercial operators.
Shark Predation
The next government needs to urgently address the issue of shark predation. This issue impacts not only recreational fishers but also commercial fishers. The reduction in shark culling has led to a rapid growth in sizable sharks who have become educated about the access to an easy feed from fishers. Our members have reported that at times they are lucky if they get one fish into the boat, and it becomes almost impossible to get two fish into the boat.
The incidence of shark predation substantially increased when the government introduced regulations that made it illegal to not only capture but to target sharks over 1.5m in length. AFTA recommends that this regulation be repealed so that sharks longer than 1.5m can be targeted by recreational fishers. Furthermore, AFTA recommends targeted studies of specific shark species stock levels and the learned behaviour of these species, such as bull sharks, with a strategy for removal and reduction from popular fishing destinations.
AFTA will be commencing a national campaign in the second half of 2024 on shark predation and urging all governments to take urgent action to address the situation.
Saddle Tail Snapper
In relation to saddle tail snapper, AFTA will support any management changes to fisheries and rules that do not limit or impact on recreational participation. We recommend that any proposed changes to the saddle tail snapper bag limit be postponed until a more detailed stock assessment with peer review has been undertaken. Proper consultation with the recreational fishing industry to detail the effect any proposed changes may have should also be undertaken.
We look forward to your prompt attention to these matters and are available for further discussion at your earliest convenience.
Yours Sincerely
Bob
The Hon. Bob Baldwin
Chair
Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA)